Lynn Davis is finally stepping back into the spotlight. After four decades of singing background for icons like George Duke, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan, and Stevie Wonder, Lynn is reintroducing her high-reaching, warm, vocal range to the world. As one of the most recorded session singers in the music industry, Lynn Davis has musical credits that goes around your neighborhood block at least five times. She has written songs for Patrice Rushen, Tracie Spencer, Thomas Anders, and LaToya Jackson, just to name very few.
Starting her career at the age of seventeen as one of the vocalists in the George Duke Band led by the iconic George Duke, Lynn Davis performed before hundreds of thousands of people and toured worldwide. “The addition of Lynn Davis made a huge difference in what I was able to write. I composed with the band in mind, utilizing each of their personal musical strengths.” says George Duke. Lynn’s vocal talent afforded her the opportunity to record a song that became one of their signature hits “I Want You for Myself” (1979). The song became a top-charting single that remains a well-known funky classic to date. She continued recording by performing with R&B group Twennynine. As the featuring female vocalist for their second album “Best of Friends”, their mainstream success invited them the opportunity to perform on American Bandstand.
During a recording session with Lalo Schifrin, Lynn was introduced to singer/pianist Patrice Rushen of whom she would go on to write and produce songs for. Collaborating on Rushen’s many songs, Lynn’s voice can be heard on “Look Up”, “Where There Is Love”, “This Is All I Really Know”, and Rushen’s highest-charting single “Forget Me Nots”. After becoming the talk of the R&B music industry, she began recording on albums by Stanley Turrentine, Greg Phillinganes, Sheree Brown, The Brothers Johnson, Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright, all of which happened in 1981.
The following year, she produced and co-wrote Patrice Rushen’s seventh album “Straight from the Heart”. Leon Patillo, a gospel singer whom had been watching Lynn for a while, recruited her to perform several songs for his album “I’ll Never Stop Loving’ You” (1982). Not one to take a break, she regrouped with George Duke and toured with him in support of his album “Guardian of the Light” (1983). Playing fast ball, she also toured with R&B/soul icon Marvin Gaye on his final tour, The Midnight Love Tour (1983). She eventually cross-paths with another R&B/soul icon Stevie Wonder, with whom she toured with as a background vocalist for his The Woman in Red Tour in 1984. “I had to audition right in his face less than 3 feet away” says Lynn. After being called into the studio by Rodney Franklin, she recorded her vocals on “Stay On In the Groove” and the heart-felt duet “Love Is the Answer”. She also recorded a duet with Johnny Mathis called “I Need You (The Journey)”.
In 1985, Lynn recorded on her longtime friend and mentor George Duke’s album “Thief in the Night” (1985) and later on his self-titled album “George Duke” in 1986. In the midst touring with George Duke, she recorded two songs “The First Time” and “It’s Your Turn” released on motion picture soundtrack for Dream to Believe: Flying. While touring with George Duke in Tokyo, she performed at the Japan Aid 2nd in 1987, an annual charity concert for Japan. It was there that she attracted the attention of Japanese singers Hiroshi Satoh and Toshinobu Kubota. Hiroshi Satoh approached Lynn with the request of recording on his album. The result were the two R&B ballads “Lady of the Nile” and “Together”, a duet with Satoh for his album “Future File” (1987). Returning to the studio in Japan to participate on The Kazu Matsui Project, she penned the song “Silent Partners” and a cover of Keiko Matsui’s song “Midnight Shuffle”, which garnered complimentary favorable feedback.
She began working with Japanese pop singer Toshinobu Kubota for his third album “Such A Funky Thang!” (1988). With the soulful addition of Lynn Davis’ vocals, “Such a Funky Thang!” became Kubota’s highest-selling album to date with a total of over a million copies sold. Among the many songs she sang on the album was the ballad “Indigo Waltz”, a duet with Toshinobu. Released as the second single from the album, the single sold over 102,000 copies in Japan becoming certified Gold-status by the RIAJ. Toshinobu Kubota also invited her to tour with him during his I Need Your Funky Thang! Tour in 1989. During the tour, they recorded a single “Give You My Love”, which also became a top-five hit and sold over 154,000 copies. Not one for letting a good thing slip away, Toshinobu Kubota invited Lynn back to perform his follow-up album “Bonga Wonga” (1990). Once again touring with Kubota, the Bonga Wanga Spring Tour was recorded live and released on video.
Though she continued to record for soundtracks and various studio projects, Lynn’s career revolved around supporting other artists. Then, in 1993, Greek musician Yanni approached Lynn with idea of touring with him. Joining him on tour, she performed the highlight operatic song “Aria”. Lynn was front and center when George Duke reunited the George Duke Band in 2008. Recording two songs (“Dukey Treats” and “Mercy”) for his album Dukey Treats seemed like good times again. Unfortunately the group would later reunite to pay homage to Duke after his passing in 2013. “George was just really the dreamweaver for everything that I did within the [music] business, always founded its way back to the original blessing of being in his camp. It was a safe place to be.” says Lynn.
Whether fronting her own band or supporting other artists, Lynn’s passion for music in all its forms leads her to constant growth and experimentation with different styles.